Results of the 2nd Annual Droughtlander Photo Contest, including a photo slideshow!

OUTLANDER: The Musical

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Diana continues to make progress on the writing, which she expects to finish in the next few days. Here's what she said Thursday on Compuserve:

I counted up yesterday (gettin' down to it) and have 110,000 words, plus
the few hundred I did in the midst of racing to and fro today....I do think it's going to come out pretty darn
close to the 120,000 I was aiming for. Three and a half (more or less)
scenes to write, one messy one to corral and tidy up, and about a dozen
little bridges for getting from point A to B, C, D, etc....and that's
IT. (Well, bar reading through and checking for water-tightness, which
might take a couple of days.)

This is great news, and I'm so glad that the writing is going well. (I don't know how many pages 120,000 words equates to, but if it ends up around the same length as BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, I'll be happy.)

A possible release date?!?

It is looking more and more likely that SCOTTISH PRISONER may be out on November 29, 2011. This is NOT official, I hasten to add! Diana has been making references to a late-November release date, but when I asked last week if they'd settled on a definite date, she said,

Not totally official yet-- I think they're waiting to see if I _really_
deliver the manuscript this month <g>--but there's a rapprochement
between US and UK, at least.

If you're wondering what her UK and US publishers have been arguing about, look here for the details. I think it's great that they managed to come to an agreement, even if it's not 100% finalized yet.

I'm starting to see that November 29 date in various places online, though, so I think I believe it:

On the UK Amazon site (complete with the cover art, shown above, which I think is very nice)

On Random House's Diana Gabaldon page (this is Diana's US publisher's site, so I would think they'd have an accurate date). Oddly enough, the only thing listed there for SCOTTISH PRISONER right now is an e-book version. (What kind of e-book format? It doesn't say.) I'll keep watching that page and will, of course, post here if I find out anything further about the US hardcover edition.

Interestingly, the Random House site lists the book under the title THE SCOTTISH PRISONER (A Lord John Novel). I don't know if they've decided to change the title officially from LORD JOHN AND THE SCOTTISH PRISONER, or if that's just a mistake on the part of whoever put the information online. Diana is in San Diego at a conference over the weekend, but when she comes back next week, I'll ask her about this.

[UPDATE 6/20/2011 6:52 pm: Diana confirmed this on Compuserve today; the title has indeed changed to THE SCOTTISH PRISONER (A Lord John Novel). Look here for details.]

Anyway, please remember that all of the above information is subject to change! Until Diana confirms it, or makes some sort of announcement on Compuserve, her blog, or her web site, please don't take any of this information as set in stone. I'm just passing it on because I thought it was interesting.

Why does Diana have to write 120,000 words or whatever? Why can't she just write the story as she is led....can it not be longer or shorter than the others in the series? Surely she would have enough clout with the publishers to make the book any length she likes?Julia

25th Anniversary Edition of DRAGONFLY IN AMBER is now available!

VOYAGER TV tie-in paperback is now available!

SEVEN STONES TO STAND OR FALL is now available!

OUTLANDER Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray is now available!

Trip to Scotland 2012

OUTLANDER book trailer!

***PLEASE NOTE***

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All quotes, characters, and events from the OUTLANDER and Lord John books are copyright (c) Diana Gabaldon. This site is not intended to infringe on the author's copyright in any way.